Type-writing machine



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. T. SMITH. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. No. 443,546. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

\\ w f if T nnrfunnnnnnnnn 1% (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

R. T. SMITH.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

No. 443,546. v Patented Dec. 80, 1890.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. T. SMITH. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Nd. 443,546. Patented Dec. 30, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROSVJEL'L T. SMITH, OF. NASHUA, NEVVIIAMPSHIRE, ASSIGNOR TO GEORGE F. KING, OF SWAMPSCOTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 443,546, dated December 30, 1890.

Application filed March 8, 1888- Serial No. 266,523. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isa detail section showing one Be it known that I, ROSWELL T. SMITH, of the sliding bars with its slotted sleeve. a citizen of the United States, residing at Fig. 8 is a detail elevation, on an enlarged Nashua, in the county of Hillsborough and scale, of the trip-hammer-actuating mechan- State of New Hampshire, have invented new ism. Fig. 9 is a detail View showinga slightlyand useful Improvements in Type-Writing modifiedconstruction of the trip-hammer, and Machines, of which the following is a specifi- Fig. 10 is a detail view showing a modificacation. tion of the feed device.

My invention relates to type-writers; and In the said drawings, the reference-numeral to the purpose thereof is to provide a printing 1 designates the platen or platform, upon mechanism capable of operating upon either which the paper sheet or back page is an ordinary sheet of paper or upon the page mounted to receive the impression. This of a blank book. platen or platform is stationary and consti- It is my purpose also to organize a typetutes the sole support for the entire type- 15 writer in which the capital and small letters writer mechanism hereinafter described. are arranged side by side upon the index, This stationary platen is of such dimensions making the selection less difficult and comas to support the entire leaf of a book or plicated. other sheet on which the printing is to be My invention also contemplates positive effected, and it is of wedge shape, as shown 23 and simple means capable of certain action in the sectional view, Fig. 2, the left-hand for advancing the carriage after each immargin being comparatively sharp orfinished pression in order to bring the paper or page off to a fine edge to permit its insertion beinto proper position to receive the impression tween the leaves of a bound book and enable of the succeeding letter. it to be driven therein close up to the bind- 25 It is also my purpose to provide a typeing-wires. From the left to the right of the writer in which the type shall be mounted operators position the platform increases in upon elastic arms or springs and to combine thickness, the upper surface being substanth erewith hammers, which when operated tially horizontal in the direction of the secwill descend upon the type and strike them tion plane, while the lower face has a down- 0 against the paper. ward inclination from left to right.

Finally, it is one purpose of my invention Upon the flat surface of the platen 1 I spread to so organize the parts of a type-writer as to athin sheet of rubberor other elastic medium permit the type to be mounted upon spring- 1, extending over the entire surface thereof. arms in the are of a circle, and to combine Upon the thicker edge of the platen 1, at or 3 5 therewith simple means for projecting said near each extremitythereof,Imountabracket type against the paper, each type-spring be- 2, having a loop or ring 3. On each bracket ingcapable of entirely independent operation. within these loops I mount a bar 4, having at The invention consists in the several novel regular. intervals circumferential grooves or features of construction and new combinachannels 5, for a purpose presently to be ex- 0 tions of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and plained. Upon the brackets 22, or, if preferred, go then definitely pointed out in the claims. upon some suitable portion of the bed 1, I

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is pivotally mount clamps 6, which are actuated a plan View of part of atype-writing mechanby leaf-springs 7, bearing against the outism embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a wardly-projecting ends and throwing said 45 vertical section in the plane 2 2, Fig.1. Fig. clamps down upon the edge or marginal por- 3 is a vertical section in the plane 3 3 of Fig. tion of the bed 1 to clamp the sheet in place 1. Fig. at is a detail section showing a modiand hold it during the time the machine is fication. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the deoperated. vices feeding the printing-bed forward. Fig. Upon the bar 4, having the channels 5, I

50 6v is a side elevation of the parts'shown in mount the double bracket consisting of the mo parts and 0, having substantially similar construction and connected together by the bar 10, so as to be essentially integral therewith. The double bracket is adapted toslide along the length of the spacing-bar 4 and also to turn or rotate thereupon, and said bracket has sleeves 12, which receive and serve as bearings for the parallel rods 13 and 14, to which the sleeves may be fastened by set-screws 15, tapped through them and hearing on the rods. The rods 13 and 14 are 0011- nected at the left-hand end by a rigid bar 10 and constitute the race way upon which the type-carriage travels as the successive impressions are made, as hereinafter explained.

To retain the rods 13 and 14 in parallel relations to the bed 1 of the type-writer, standing lugs 16 and 17 are formed upon each of said bars, respectively, said lugs having such length as to rest upon the printing surface or platform 1 in such manner as to preserve the said bars in substantially parallel relations to the bed or carriage.

Upon the rod 14 are formed laterally-projecting pins or teeth 18, arranged at regular intervals throughout the entire working length of said rod or bar. On said bar are mounted two collars or sleeves 19, which slide freely thereon, said sleeves havin g slots 20 in one side to permit the passage of the pins 18, as shown in Fig. '1'. Upon the parallel bar 13 is mounted the sleeve 21, which forms part of the typecarriage, which consists of a circular plate 22, part of which is occupied by the index, while part or all of the remaining portion may be utilized as a support and guide for the regulating-lever. The circular plate or ring 92 is carried by arms 23, joined to the sleeves 19, that slide on the rod 14, said arms extending across the circular plate from left to right, Fig. 2, and dividing such plate into two substantially equal portions. An arm 24 extends from the center of the circle directly rearward until it connects with the plate 22, and thereby divides the rear semi-circumference of the latter into two equal parts, or quarter-circles. The arm 24 is provided at its junction with the arms 23, with a platform 95, having a central bearing 26, constituting a pivot on which the type-carriage revolves. This carriage consists of a central sleeve 27, turning upon the vertical bearing 26, the parts being united by a pin 28, passing through the sleeve or collar 27 and into a circumferential slot in the central hearing or hub 26. The sleeve carries a type-wheel composed of a disk 27, which revolves freely upon the vertical bearing 26 to the extent of one-half its circumference, and would pass freely around the entire circle but for the bracket 2.), which forms abcaring for the upper end of the shaft 30, lying in the vertical bearing 20. The bracket 29 is formed upon a collar 21, sliding upon the bar 13, and extends over the typewheel, as shown in Fig. 1.

It will be evident that the type-carriage is properly sustained in its movements on the rods 13 and 14 through the medium of the sleeves or collars 19, arms 23, sleeve or collar 21, and the bracket 29, the latter bracing the shaft Extending from the periphery of the typecarriage are the spring-arms 32, formed of anysuitablc spring metal, and upon the outer extremities of these arms are mounted the type 33, said spring-arms radiating from the periphery of the carriage through about onehalf of its circumference, the said arms being of substantially equal length, whereby the type will be at aboutthe sameradial distance from the center of rotation of said carriage. Upon the type-carriage is mounted a circumferehtial covering-plate 3i. (Shown in Figs. 2 and 3.) Upon this covering-plate I mount the bracket 35, and upon this bracket is pivotally mounted thelever 36, having a slot 37, through which the central shaft 30 extends, thereby giving said lover a bearing upon the shaft, whereby it may move up and down therein. Formed upon the shaft 30 is a button or head 38, which directly underlies the lever 36, whereby vibration of the latter upon its pivotal axis or bearing will depress the shaft. Upon the outer end of the lever 36 is mounted a handle 39, having a suitable button or knob 40, whereby the vibration of said lever in the practical operation of the typewriter maybe effected. The lower end of the shaft 30 rests upon the leaf-spring 41, whereby the said shaft is pressed upward, lifting with it the lever 36. Below the button 38 the shaft 30 is made square or angular; or, if preferred, it may be splined to its bearing to prcvent axial movement. Below the bearing or platform 25 the shaft 30 is cut away upon one side of its axis to form a flat face 42, upon which ispivotally mounted a dog43, having an angular end 44, which projects beyond the shaft toward the right, orin the line of the shaft 14. A stop-pin 45 is inserted in front of the dog, as shown in Fig. 5, and a spring 46 bears upon it behindjustbelow the pivotal point which normally throws the dog toward the right. Below the dog 43 the shaft is cut away upon the side adjacent to said dog, forming a plane surface 47. Parallel to the plane of pivotal movement and above said surface is formed a shoulder or incline 48, having an angle of inelinatiol'l to the axis of the shaft which is substantially similar to the angle of the extremity 44 of the dog 43. This end of the dog overhangs one of the pins 18 on the bar 14 at all times, and by the depression of the shaft 30 through the action of the lever 36 the pin is carried under the incline 48, so that the type-carriage is advanced toward the right-hand end, Figs. 1 and 2. As the leafspring 41 raises the shaft 30 after each action of the lever 30 the end 44 of the dog is thrown back by contact with the succeeding pin 18, this retractile movement being permitted by the spring 46, whereby after the shaft rises and carries the dog past the succeeding pin the end 44 is thrown forward and brought IIO over the said pin in readiness for the next stroke of the lever 36.

Upon the bracket 29 is mounted the triphammer 49, having a pivotal hearing at 50. Upon the inner end of said trip-hammer is mounted by a pivotal joint 51 the hammertripping dog 52, having a lug or tooth 53, in the path of which is placed a stop-pin 54, the latter mounted upon the inner end of the hammer. Upon the bracket 29 is mounted a spring 55, acting upon the hammer 49 in such manner as to depress the letter. Upon the bracket 29, under the acting end of the hammer 49, is mounted a bracket 56, in which is a striker 57, whichis suspended directly over the are within which the type are carried by the rotation of the type -carriage. Beneath the spring 55 is placed a stop-pin 58, whereby the effective force of said spring is arrested at the moment when the type is about to make impression upon the sheet, this arrest of the hammer movement giving all the results necessary from the momentum of the hammer only, and the hammer and type are both suffered to recoil after each blow or impact to produce an instantaneous impression upon the paper and prevent danger of slurring or producing indistinct impressions. After each stroke the hammer is brought back into position to impart the next stroke by means of a light spring 59. The dog 52 has a lip 60, which underlies the margin of the button 38 on the shaft 30. As the button is thrown down by lever 36 the hammer is raised until the lip or angle of the dog 52 has passed the margin of the button, whereupon the spring 55 throws the hammer down until it impinges upon the striker 57, whereby a sufiicient blow is given to the type to force it downward and make an instantaneous impression upon the sheet, the hammer-impelling spring 55 being arrested in its action an instant before the hammer strikes the striker, whereby the momentum of said hammer only is utilized, enabling the type to rebound by the elasticity of its spring-arm and to cause a rebound of the striker 57 also. As the lever returns to its normal position the button rises, the dog 52 allowing it to pass to its position above the latter.

The dog 52, spring 55, and button 38 or similar device on the shaft 30 constitute the hammer-tripping mechanism. It will be observed that the hammer is above the typewheel and is first raised. It is then released or tripped and the spring throws it suddenly downward to operate the type-carrying arm with a quick sudden blow, which is of considerable importance in obtaining perfect printing.

Upon the type wheel or carriage 27 is mounted an index-hand or pointer 62, which lies over the index part of the plate 22, and is swung or vibrated in each direction over said plate by means of the lever 36. Upon that portion of the plate opposite the index are formed notchcsor channels 63, with one of which a depending lug 64 on the extremity of the lever-arm 36 engages at each depression of the lever, said notches acting as guides to justify the indexical relation of the type-carriage to the series of letters on the plate 22 and secure the striking of the proper type by the hammer-rod or striker 57.

I have shown in Fig. 9a modified form of type-striking device, the same consisting of a hammer-rod or striker 57, above which is fulcrumed a lever 65, having one end lying over the striker and its other end connected by a rod 66 to one extremity of a similar lever 67, fulcrumed in such position that its free end lies in the path of one edge of the button 38 on the shaft 30. As the latter is thrown downward by the stroke of the lever 36 the two levers and 67 are actuated simultaneously by the impact of the button, and the movement is communicated from lever 65 to the rod or striker 57 In this arrangement the type will print from the blow of the lever 65, but by power derived directly from the lever 36.

I may ink the type by a saturated inkcushion, with which said type have contacted; or I may use an ink-ribbon of any ordinary construction, ora strip of carbon-paper lying upon the sheet or page, or any other means for producinga legible impression by the type.

Upon that part of the circle reserved for the index 22 I place the several letters, figures, and symbols in substantially the order observed in an ordinary type-Writer index, save that where both capital and small letters are used I place the latter in a space adjacent to the former to enable theoperator to locate the letters with less efiort of memory.

The rod 4 is channeled or grooved at intervals corresponding to the distance by which the lines of printing are to be separated upon the page. hen the carriage has reached its right-hand limit of movement, the-operator seizes the button 38, lifts the shaft 30 above the pins, and slides the carriage to the left hand of the raceway. He then lifts pin 4 to release it from the groove 5 in rod 4 and draws the sleeves 9 and 10 toward himself until the pin drops into the next groove, moving the raceway and carriage to the next lower line. It will be seen that instead of moving the paper to, the printing mechanism I reverse the operation and move the printing mechanism to the paper.

Instead of using the platen or platform 1 as a support for printing a book, I purpose providing a clamp by which one part of a cover and the leaves of an open book can be clamped to the grooved spacing-bar 4, as in Fig. 4. In this modification each of the loops or rings 3 on the bar 4 is provided with a jaw 3*, Fig. 4, through which is tapped a setscrew 3 having a head 3, on which rests another jaw 3 so that part of a book can be clamped between said jaws, as clearly shown, by lightening up the screw 3'. The clamping action may be increased by a secondary setscrew 2, tapped through the jaw 3 to bear against the loop or ring The raceway-rods and carriage may be lifted from the paper, as shown in Fig. 1' in dotted lines.

In place of the feed shown in Figs. 5, G, and 7, I may use the device shown in Fig. 10, consisting of a pawl 70, pivoted on the shaft 30 and taking into the teeth of a rack 71 on the bar 14..

To obtain suitable spaces between the words, I provide a blank space in the dial, so that the operating-lever can make a stroke without printing or making an impression.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a typeavriter, the combination, with a type-carriage and the type-operating mechanism therefor, of a platen or platform having a supporting-surface arranged in proper parallel relation to the type-carriage and an opposite surface forming an acute angle with said supporting-surface, whereby the platen or platform can be inserted in a bound volume, substantially as and for the purposes set. forth.

2. The combination, with the type-carriage of a type-writer, of astationary platen or platform having an elastic supporting-surface arranged parallel to the type-carriage and an opposite surface forming an acute angle with said elastic supportin"-surfacc, said platen adapted to be inserted into a bound volume to support an entire leaf thereof, substantially as and for the purposes described.

3. The combination, in a type-writer, of a stationary platen having its under side forming an acute angle with its upper side and adapted to be inserted into a bound volume, a clamp for holding the paper or book to be printed in a fixed position on the surface of the platen, and a type-carriage having typeoperating mechanism and movable back and forth in lines at right angles to each other, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the stationary platen having its upper surface arranged in a horizontal plane and its under surface forming an acute angle with the upper surface, said platen adapted to be inserted into a bound volume to support an entire leaf thereof, with a type-carriage carrying typeoperatin g mechanism and type-carriage su pports located over and solely supported by the platen, substantially as described.

5. The combination of the stationary platen having its upper surface continuously covered with an elastic material and arranged in a horizontal plane and its under surface fornr ing an acute angle with said upper surface and adapted to be inserted into a bound volume to support an entire leaf thereof, with a type-carriage having type-operating mechanism and located wholly over and supported by the said stationary platen, substantially as described.

6. In a type-writer, the combination, with a traveling type-carriage carrying type-operating mechanism, of astationary platen having its upper surface arranged parallel to the line of movement of the type-carriage and its under surface forming an acute angle with said upper surface, said platen serving as the support for the type carriage supports and adapted to be inserted in abound volume, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a stationary platen having its under surface forming an acute angle with its upper paper-supporting surface, with a typecarriage, type-carriage supports having a hinged connection with the thickest edge of the platen to permit the supports and the type-carriage to be swung upward to insertthe platen in a bound volume,and typeoperating mechanism carried by said typecarriage, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a stationary platen having its undersurface forming an acute angle with its upper supporting-surface, with a ty 'ie earriage carrying type-operating mechanism and supported by and movable over the platen in a plane parallel to the top surface thereof, substantially as described.

9. The combination, in a type-writer, of a spacingbar, a stationary support forthe matter to be printed, the raceway-rods adapted to slide along the length of the spacing-bar and one having pins or teeth,atype-carriagemovable along thelength of the raceway-rods and comprising a centrally journaled rotating disk carrying spring-supported type arranged in the arc of a circle, a shaft extending up through the center of said disk and havinga dog to engage the pins or teeth on the raceway-rods, and means, substantially as described, for depressing the shaft to advance the type-carriage and depress the type, substantially as described.

10. The combination of a rigid bracket, a spring trip-hammer pivoted thereon and carrying atripping-dog, a rotary type-wheel located below the trip-hammer and having elastic type-carrying arms, a vertical shaft constituting the axis of the type-wheel, a lever for depressing the shaft, and a button on the shaft for acting on the tripping-dog carried by the hammer to raise and release the harm mer and permit its spring to throw it suddenly downward, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the raceway-rods, one of which is provided with pins or teeth, the type-carriage movable on the rods and comp rising a rotary type-wheel having elastic type-carrying arms, the rigid bracket, the spring trip-hammer pivoted on the bracket above.the type-wheel, a vertically'movable shaft constituting the axis of the type-wheel, a lever for depressing the shaft, and means, substantially as described, which advances the type-carriage and trips the hammer as the said shaft is forced downward, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the raceway-rods, one of which is provided with pins or teeth, the type-carriage movable on the rods and comprising a rotary type-wheel having elastic typecarrying arms, a rigid bracket, a spring trip-hammer pivoted on the bracket above the type-wheel, a vertically-movable shaft constituting the axis of the type-wheel and having a pawl or dog to engage the pins or teeth of the raceway-rods, a lever for depressing the shaft, and means, substantially as described, for advancing the type-carriage and raising and releasing the trip-hammer as the shaft descends, substantially as described.

13. The combination of a stationary support for the matter to be printed, a type-carriage movable back and forth and comprising a rotary type-wlieel having elastic type-carrying arms, a shaft constituting the axis of the type-wheel, a swinging trip-hammer pivoted above the type-wheel and by its descent actuating the type-arms, a lever for depressing the shaft, and means, substantially as described, operated by the shaft in its descending movement to advance the type-carriage and raise and release the trip-hammer and permit its spring to throw it downward and depress a type-arm.

14. The combination of a transverse spacing-bar, a bracket supporting said spacingbar and carrying a clamp to hold the matter to be printed, the raceway-rods sliding along the length of the spacing-bar and journaled thereupon to swing upward and downward on said spacing-bar as a pivot, a type-carriage movable along the raceway-rods and carrying type-operating mechanism and comprising a rotary type-wheel, a lengthwise-movable shaft constituting the axis of the type-wheel, a lever for moving the shaft, and means, substantially as described, for advancing the typecarriage and operating the type by the descending movement of the said shaft.

15. The combination of arigid bracket, a rotary type-wheel having elastic type-carrying arms and moving beneath the bracket, a spring trip-hammer pivoted on the bracketabove the type-wheel, a lengthwise-movable shaft having a button, a tripping-dog pivoted on the hammer, and a lever to depress the shaft and cause the button to raiseand release the hammer, substantially as described.

16. In combination, a type-carriage support, a type-carriage having type-operating mechanism and movable in two directions at right angles to each other, and a platen having a uniformly smooth and continuously unob structed top surface for insertion between the leaves of a book to continuously support a leaf throughout its extent Where the printing is to be effected, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROSWELL T. SMITH.

Witnesses:

J. A. SPALDING, S. J. M. SMITH. 

